BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH. A congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 79 Brooklyn Street PO Box 606 Portville, NY 14770

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BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH A congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 79 Brooklyn Street PO Box 606 Portville, NY 14770 (716)-933-6699 e-mail:bethelportville@gmail.

1 BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH A congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 79 Brooklyn Street PO Box 606 Portville, NY (716) bethelportville@gmail.com Websites: (congregation) (synod) (ELCA) Worship Service Sundays at 9:00am; Sunday School at 10:15am God s work. Our hands. In case of a pastoral emergency, please contact the church at: or Pastor Marie Meeks at OCTOBER 2017 Remember Elizabeth Barrett Browning s words about God s action in nature? She wrote: Earth is crammed with heaven And every common bush aflame with God; And only those who see take off their shoes; The rest sit round and pluck blackberries October is surely one month when God s Nature colors the trees and the last flowers of summer with breath-taking beauty. Our amazing planet reminds us of the goodness and glory of God. How true are the Psalmist s words: The earth is the Lord s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1 RSV) The question for us is: How are we caring for this glorious earth? As Christian stewards we must treat Mother Earth with great appreciation. God intends for us to be good caretakers of it. Furthermore, as stewards we will want to give of our time, talents and resources to keep it in the best condition possible for the coming generations. Christian stewardship requires nothing less. There is more about this in the October issue of Stewardship. Prayer: O Lord of heaven and earth forgive us for treating this world as belonging only to ourselves. Enable us never to forget that it belongs entirely to you, yet we are your servants to maintain it well. Amen. The Portville Food Pantry collects these items on an on-going basis: spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, pasta, mac and cheese, pork and beans, canned vegetables, tuna, soup, rice, egg noodles, and canned tomatoes. Any donations would be greatly appreciated.

2 Pray First! - For all service men and women, and their families, especially Casey McCarthy, Tyler McCarthy, Kendra Linn, Travis Dorvit and Kyle Lust. For Christ to be made known in our companion synods Zimbabwe and Zambia, and our partner synod Central/Southern Illinois Synod. For the Franciscan community at Mt. Irenaeus and the Burkhart Retreat Center for Life retreats in our local area. For our Bishops, Bishop Elizabeth Eaton (ELCA) and John Macholz Upstate New York Synod), Assistants to the Bishop Dave Preisinger, Mary Johnson, and Dean Daniel Rumfelt. For the mission congregations in our synod Organic Faith in Amherst and Todos los Hijos de Dios in Amsterdam. For the pastors and congregations in our Southwestern Conference and for our congregation council leaders President Bill Graves, Secretary Linda Scott, Treasurer Doug Ploetz, Vice President Ruth Brewer and members Caroline Miller, Donald Linn and Jerry Maerten. For our sister congregation, Peace Lutheran and their ministry in Slidell, LA for the ministry of ELCMA Evangelical Lutheran Coalition for Mission in Appalachia. For area ministries: Genesis House, Portville Community Food Pantry, and Interfaith Caregivers. -. Prayer Chain: If you have need of prayer, we have an prayer chain. Just call Bev Robinson phone number or at grandmagee7@verizon.net. PLEASE SEE BULLETIN BOARD outside the sanctuary for a COMPLETE SECRETARY S REPORT. Council Member Assignment Bill Graves Ruth Brewer Linda Scott Doug Ploetz Ruth Brewer Caroline Miller Jerry Maerten Don Linn Committee Council President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Worship and Music & Christian Education Stewardship & Fellowship Outreach/Evangelism Property Notice: When you call the church phone number it will be automatically forwarded to Pastor Marie s cell phone. You will be able to talk directly to her or leave her a message and she will return your call. Thank you. We NEED people to sign up as worship servants. We are in need of Lectors, Prayer Leaders, Ushers, Communion assistants and Altar Guild. There are sign-up sheets on the table in Fellowship Hall. Please sign up for one or more of these positions as you feel led. Thank you. FOR YOUR UPDATE AND INFORMATION Have you checked out Bethel's Facebook Group? The url is: /. Fundraiser Funds are divided as follows: 10% Charity of our choice 10% Benevolence Rest in general fund

Our next church breakfasts will be on Saturday November 4 th Breakfast will be held from 8:00am until 11:00am. We need volunteers to help cook and serve.

3 Our next church breakfasts will be on Saturday November 4 th Breakfast will be held from 8:00am until 11:00am. We need volunteers to help cook and serve. Please help if you are able as this is a great fundraiser and a wonderful time of fellowship. Thanks. Choir practice is held Sunday mornings at 7:45am. All are welcome to join. Sopranos are needed. No audition necessary November 12 th will be our church budget meeting. Please try and plan to attend. Please keep these members in your prayers and send them a card if you are able. Skip Robinson 1262 Indian Creek Road Eldred, PA (814) Hilda Prosser % Cuba Memorial Hospital Nursing Home Room 238W 140 West Main Street Cuba, NY (585) Ext. 712 In Memory of Bob Brewer Mark and Cheryl Welles A thank you was received from Anna Wray for the Gretchen Kautz Shavalier Memorial Scholarship that was awarded to her. Pastor Marie's office hours are: Tuesday at Bethany from 9:30 to 2:30 Wednesday at Bethel from 10:30 to 3:30 If you would like your Loved ones remembered during the All Saints Sunday Service on November 5 th ; please sign up in the fellowship hall with their name who have passed away in the last year. Also please bring in a photo to be shared.

4 OCTOBER 2017 Worship Assistants, Birthdays and Anniversaries Happy Birthday to: Worship Assistants Acolyte...Haedyn Brewer Communion Assistants 1 st Linda Scott & Nannette Giberson 8 th Jo Kile & Nannette Giberson 15 th Ruth & Dakota Brewer 22 nd Jo Kile & Nannette Giberson 2 nd ---Ron Brewer 6 th ---Jake Parr 8 th ---Jianna Nix 9 th ----Rain Fahnestock 15 th ---Jean Benson 17 th ---Joy Linn 23 rd ---Kyle Keenan 24 th ---Delores Chapman, Tamera Linn 31 st --- Kerrie Parr Lectors: October 1 st.....pen Yunghans October 8 th..nannette Giberson October 15 th..doug Ploetz October 22 nd Nannette Giberson October 29 th Service at Immanuel Prayer Leader: October 1 st... Linda Scott October 8 th... Nannette Giberson October 15 th.caroline Miller October 22 nd Connie Smith Matteson October 29 th Service at Immanuel Usher/s 1 st, 15 th, 22 nd Caroline Miller 8 th Rick Giberson Happy Anniversary to: 4 th ---Robert & Kathy Baughman 21 st Chris and Molly Scott Altar Guild Trinette Brewer Mail Greeter Caroline Miller Bread Baker..Ron Kile

5 BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH CALENDAR OCTOBER 2017 Sunday, Oct. 1 st Sat. Oct 7 th SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 7:45am Choir Rehearsal 9:00am- Worship with fellowship following 10:15am Sunday school First Breakfast of the year 8:00am 11:00am Sunday, Oct. 8 th EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 7:45am choir Rehearsal 9:00am Worship with Fellowship following 10:15am Sunday school Blessing of the animals around noon at Bethany in the pavilion. Sunday, Oct. 15 th NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 7:45am First Choir rehearsal 9:00am Worship with Fellowship following 10:15am Sunday school Thursday, Oct. 19 th 7:00 pm. Council Meeting Sunday, Oct. 22 nd TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 7:45am Choir Rehearsal 9:00am Worship with Fellowship following 10:15am Sunday school Sunday, Oct 29 th REFORMATION SUNDAY COMBINED SERVICE WITH BETHANY AT IMMANUEL Prelude music at 10am with service beginning at 10:30am. The charity for the month of October is Lutheran Disaster Response Hurricane Relief.

6 Portville s Art, Antique and Craft show will be held on November 4 th and 5 th from 10am 4pm at Portville Central School. THE GIFT TREE The Stewardship committee is once again sponsoring the Gift Tree through Interfaith Caregivers. Please let Nannette know how much you would like to donate. We will take donations through the 1 st of November. We have set the date of Friday evening, November 10 th as our shopping trip and wrapping time. We will meet at the Wal-Mart in Olean at 6:00pm and begin the Christmas shopping evening. We invite you all to participate in the venture. It s a lot of fun!! CHRISTMAS CAROLING It may seem a little early to be planning this, but Christmas time is creeping up on us. We are scheduling our Christmas Caroling time for Sunday afternoon on December 10 th from 2pm 4pm. Everyone is welcome to join us. You don t need to be choir member or even good singers to have a great time. It is so rewarding to see how much we are appreciated by the people we sing to. Please make time in your schedule to come and join us. Christmas card exchange the first of December we will have our little red sleigh ready to take your Christmas cards to share with each other. Stewardship will deliver the cards to members. Have fun! Sunday, December 17 th Sunday School Christmas Program during worship! Please remember our clothing drop box used to collect clothes for people in need. The box is located in the parking lot of the church next to the utility shed. If you have clothing you wish to drop off, please place them in plastic bags and tie them up.

7 Again I had the privilege to go on another mission trip for the Impacto Ministry. This ministry serves and ministers to the people of Guatemala, The ministry is located in a small village San Juan. The ministry's efforts include training, providing resources for pastors and church leaders, feeding and helping the malnourished children (happytummies) and the elderly (Abuelitos). Healing hands, stitches of blessing, improving life styles and lives through compassion and spiritual ministry Our team of 10 women were able to spend time with a single mother and her three children. She was a former prostitute and was living with her sister and her family, She had become so desperate that she was considering taking her 3 children and put them in orphanges and was going to return to her old habits. The Impacto ministry worked with her, built her a house and our team donated money to buy her two beds and mattress. Currently all 4 were sharing one mattress. She was given the opportunity to work at the Happy Tummies as a cook for the children in the program. Each child is given a nutritious meal, a vitamin, taught personal hygiene and its importance. We had bible lessons with the kids and incorporated balloon ministry by telling them the story of creation, then making balloon animals and letting the kids make their own animals. The stitches of blessing is a program in which about 20 women attend a year and then are graduated with a sewing machine of their own by the Impact ministry. We brought material for 2 large tote bags to be made so the women can use them or sell. The same women were also given yarn and taught to crochet. The Abuelitos were also given a nutritious meal daily, We attempted to teach them crocheting which some of them tried but didn't succeed. The Abuelitos enjoyed just siting with us and coloring pictures which they gave us. We attended a church service on Sunday evening at a Baptist church that lasted over 2 hours. Even though everything was in spanish, you could still make out the story they were portraying. for example the story of the progigal son. They also had a choir of 20 men. After the service they all gather for fellowship with a light meal. We had the opportunity to make some home visits in the rural places outside of the village. There we saw how the homes are constructed of concrete, dirt floors, a kitchen with a wood burning stove, a table and another room with mattresses on the floor. Connected to the house was another room which contained the toilet and sink. No running water in the house. If the house had windows, they were covered with bars for protection. The family I visited consisted of the grandmother, her two daughters and the grandchildren. The men in that family were out working the coffee fields. We brought them food consisting of peanut butter, beans, rice, powdered milk, oatmeal. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve and grateful for the support the Bethel church family given me and the gift of peanut butter to be given to each of the families participating in the Happy Tummies program. We also visited a school of about 70 kids and give them the jars of peanut butter. I hope to be able to return again next year and anyone is welcome to join in this ministry. Ruth Brewer

8 Visited a school and presented a bible story. Children in the Happy Tummies program sewing ladies working on the tote bags balloon animal ministry with the kids. They were read the story of creation and then they got to make their own animals

BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH. A congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 79 Brooklyn Street PO Box 606 Portville, NY 14770

BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH. A congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 79 Brooklyn Street PO Box 606 Portville, NY 14770 BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH A congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 79 Brooklyn Street PO Box 606 Portville, NY 14770 (716)-933-6699 e-mail:bethelportville@gmail.com Websites: (congregation)www.bethelportvilleny.org;